There are also improved mooring cleats and rope guides in each corner, a wider transom gate and increased stowage in side and transom cupboards.
As a company that vigorously chases sales in markets far removed from Australasia, Riviera has clearly chosen to emphasise the entertaining aspect of this model rather than its ability to simply pursue dinner.
The large cockpit is uncluttered, with plenty of room for a free-standing table and chair set.
Forward, with its back to the saloon bulkhead and on a slightly raised portion of the cockpit, is an aft-facing settee, giving those using it a commanding view of proceedings lower down. At the other end, centrally mounted against the transom, is a true entertainer's console, complete with electric barbecue, plenty of bench space, a cutting board, sink and running water. The galley is not that far away, handily situated just inside the saloon.
In inclement weather, you can choose to entertain indoors, where the saloon's large windows give panoramic views.
The 53's layout is fairly traditional, although no less striking for that. The dining area is immediately forward of the galley and there is a large, comfortable settee opposite. The rather interesting flybridge access - more an internal ladder than a stairway - is opposite the galley, as are a brace of fridge-and-freezer drawer combos and a full-height pull-out pantry.
The focus on entertaining continues in the flybridge. This is the sort of space for which the term "sky lounge" was coined. It boasts a spacious dinette, a brace of settees, stunning all-round views and a bar.
Although not as completely enclosed as its name might suggest, it will be - in all but the worst weather - a very comfortable place.
The most interesting thing about the flybridge is its unusual arrangement. Usually there is a choice of station forward or station back and the rest of the design follows. In this case, Riviera has placed the station forward, but offset it to port with a settee on the starboard bulkhead.
Aft of this, the company has created a cherrywood entrance cover for the stairway down to the saloon.
To port, the area behind the station and opposite the bar is taken up with another semi-formal dinette that seats five. The aft backrest can be left in place to complete the L-shape around the table, or slid forward to create an aft-facing seat ideal for watching lures.
The station is imposing, if rather compact. Highlights are the almost sci-fi design, the use of the port bulkhead to form another console, and Volvo Penta's EVC remote controls and joystick - just a single set for the triple IPS engines.
The Riviera 53 Enclosed Flybridge is the third model in the company's range to be designed solely for pod-drives. Owners can choose between Volvo Penta IPS, Cummins MerCruiser Zeus or ZF, all in either a two- or a three-engine configuration. Part of the basis for that decision is, no doubt, the way these modern engine systems perform - but part must be the huge space-saving factor. You can access the engine room through a large "floating floor" cockpit hatch, through a hatch at the base of the saloon steps, or by one just inside.
It is impossible not to be amazed at the huge amount of space now available - so much spare room that Riviera offers the option of a separate crew cabin here. From an engineering perspective, that space makes moving around so much easier than in a confined engine room. It has also enabled Riviera to put heavy equipment - such as genset, air-conditioning units, battery banks and the like - and the 3500-litre fuel tank exactly where they work best for fore and aft trim.
The triple IPS rig certainly works well in the performance department. Top speed is a more-than-adequate 30 knots, and the 22,300kg displacement craft will happily cruise at 25 knots. Thanks in part to that 3500-litre fuel capacity, it also has a range, at that cruising speed, of 400 nautical miles.
Riviera 53
LOA: 18.02m
LWL: 17.2m
Beam: 5.13m
Draft: 1.25m
Displacement: 22,300kg
Construction: GRP composite
Engines: Triple 435hp Volvo Penta IPS600
Maximum speed: 30 knots
Cruising speed: 23 knots
Fuel capacity: 3500 litres
Water capacity: 740 litres
Price (from): $2,195,000
Price as described: $2,415,0008
Want to know more?
Check out Barry Tyler's review of the Riviera 53 Enclosed Flybridge in the September/October issue of Pacific Powerboat magazine or at www.pacificpowerboat.com
